Pet Blogs

There are many pet blogs, but I find a few particularly noteworthy. Some blogs focus on pet health, some on cuteness, and other pet blogs blend pet news, health care and fun. Check out my Top 3 Pet Blogs:

1. Drs. Foster & Smith Pet Blog
This pet blog has wonderful variety: pet health information, tips & tricks, and just fun pet stories. The people who write on this blog are all employees of Drs. Foster and Smith pet supplies, the online pet supply company. However, there are no sales on the blog - only information. The authors all seem to have pets and write about their personal experiences. The blog encourages readers to share their stories via post comments. Often, the post author will reply to comments.

2. Pet Finder

I am an advocate for pet adoption, and I think Pet Finder is a wonderful site that helps pets who need a new forever home. You can search for pets by any region in the country. It also has important articles to help potential pet owners make good decisions on what type of pet to adopt, helping to make successful adoptions. Pet Finder's is easy to use, and a great resource.

3. Cute OverloadSimply put - this pet blog will bring a smile to your face.

Spay Day - Get It Done!

Getting your dog or cat spayed or neutered is of utmost importantance in the effort to keep the homeless pet population under control. Today, Spay Day USA, is our reminder to GET IT DONE!

Sure, we are all touched by the little faces of new puppies, and some may even think about having a litter themselves, but it's best to leave that to a responsible dog breeder. Experienced dog breeders are equipped and prepared to care for a litter, and can handle any health problems that might arise. A reputable breeder often has new owners waiting for puppies before they are born, and will screen prospective buyers to ensure the puppies go to good, caring homes.

Talk to your veterinarian about spaying as soon as you get a puppy. There are health and behavioral benefits to spaying your dog before she has a heat. Most dogs are spayed between 5 and 8 months of age, but it can be done as early as 2 months or any older age.

Happy Spay Day USA!

Holiday Plants That are Poisonous to Pets

We all like to bring the spirit of the season to life by making our home festive for the holidays. Just as you need to take safety precautions for small children, there are precautions you'll need to take to keep your pet safe.

Plants that are traditionally used in homes during the holidays can be poisonous to dogs and cats. Be sure the following holiday plants are out of your pet's reach, or consider using imitation:

• Holly
• Mistletoe
• Poinsettias
• Hibiscus

How to Clean Pet Urine Accidents

Sooner or later, all pet owners have to deal with cleaning up a potty accident. You'll want to clean it properly for sanitation purposes and to avoid staining or odors.

How To Clean Pet Urine addresses every aspect the topic including:

--The Causes of Pets Messing
--Pet Urine Stain and Odor Removal
--Basic Pet Urine Cleaning Technique
--Pet Urine Cleaning Do's and Don’ts

If you like this article by Advice-on-Pet-Care-and-Pet-Product-Supplies-Online.com, you'll enjoy browsing their other educational articles. They even have a free monthly Paws Here! e-magazine.

Does Your Pet Have Allergies?

Today is the first day of fall! While you enjoy the cooler temperatures and beautiful fall color, do you also suffer from allergies? Allergies can make you feel miserable. Pets can suffer from allergies as well. Does your pet have allergies? This article can help you answer that question...

Signs your Pet May Have Allergies

Author: Brent Goodman

Depending on the type of allergy, your pet may exhibit different symptoms. Although pets occasionally exhibit watery eyes and some sneezing, the most common reaction is scratching. Constant scratching may lead to raised infected welts, open sores, and loss of hair. Ear infections are also common in dogs with allergies.

Pets who are affected by allergies may suffer their entire lives; typically symptoms worsen as they get older. We can help alleviate some of that suffering by knowing the signs of allergies and finding the right type of product relief for the symptoms.

Types of Allergies That Affect Pets

There are four types of allergies that can affect your pet. Allergies caused by things your pet inhales are termed airborne allergies. Common sources are pollens, molds, and dust mites. Allergies that result from flea-bites are referred to as flea allergies or flea-bite dermatitis. Certain allergies occur from items your pet ingests, and are typically called food allergies. Contact allergies are caused by something your pet comes in direct contact with, such as carpet fibers, plastics, and other things. Contact allergies (plastics, carpet fibers, detergents) are far less common than inhalant allergy and flea allergy dermatitis in pets.

Common Allergy Symptoms:

FACE - Appearance: muzzle, chine and areas around the eyes reddened with hair loss. Behavior: scratching or rubbing face with paws or against furniture.

EARS - Appearance: waxy discharge; redness, odor. Behavior: scratching or rubbing ears with paws or against furniture.

SKIN - Appearance: reddened; possibly with crusts or scales; odor with secondary infections. Behavior: scratching and licking sides/belly, elbows, groin.

HAIRCOAT - Appearance: bald spots; brown discoloration where licking has occurred. Behavior: scratching sides/belly; rubbing face against furniture or carpet, licking.

FEET - Appearance: inflammation, redness, odor, brown discoloration where licking has occurred. Behavior: licking and chewing of feet/pads.

Contact Dermatitis

Less common allergies include contact dermatitis, which include allergy to carpets, cleaners, or plastic. These allergies may cause:

* Red itchy bumps or blisters on sparsely-haired areas of the skin and those exposed to the allergen such as the belly, feet, or muzzle

* Intense scratching

* Hair loss (in chronic conditions)

Food Allergies

Food allergies account for about 10% of all allergies in dogs and cats. Food allergies may show up concurrently with allergies to pollen, dust, etc. Symptoms include:

* Itching, especially face, feet, trunk, limbs and anal area

* Ear problems, often yeast-related

* Skin infections that respond to antibiotics, but then recur as soon as the antibiotic therapy ceases

Occasionally, dogs with true food allergies may have increased bowel movements and soft stool. Food allergies should not be confused with food intolerances, which are not true allergies, and generally cause diarrhea and vomiting.

Watching your pet go through the misery of allergy symptoms can be miserable in itself. If you suspect your pet has allergies, visit your veterinarian. The type of allergy and severity of the symptoms will determine how your veterinarian decides to treat them.

Less common, but more severe allergic reactions include:

* Urticaria (hives)

* Angioedema (facial swelling)

* Anaphylaxis is a rare, life-threatening, immediate allergic reaction to something ingested or injected. If untreated, it can in some cases, result in shock, respiratory and cardiac failure, and death.

These symptoms usually appear within 20 minutes of being exposed to the allergen, which can include drugs, chemicals, insect bites, or something eaten.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/signs-your-pet-may-have-allergies-295944.html

About the Author:College, a Masters of Fine Arts from Purdue University, and has extensive experience in research communications and educational publishing across various fields of study. He is currently the Senior Copywriter at Drs. Foster & Smith Pet Supplies, the nation's leading online and catalog pet supplier.

Walk Your Dog | Don't Let Him Walk You

It's no fun being pulled around the neighborhood by your dog--I speak from experience. I fixed this problem with the Gentle Leader Easy Walker harness that I blogged about a few months back.

However, I came across an excellent article, Does Your Dog Pull On the Leash. It offers a simplistic, easy to understand approach to solving the dog pulling problem.

I've had the best summer of evening walks with my dog. If you skimp on walking your dog for this reason, try one of the solutions.

Pet Meds

Pet meds are a necessity, but they don't have to be a stress-point for your pet, nor painful to your pocketbook. Discover how you can save money, time and stress by purchasing pet meds online.

Just because your pet's veterinarian writes a prescription does not mean you must purchase the pet meds from the veterinarian. Online pet meds sites make it easy for you to order a prescription. For example, Drs. Foster and Smith pet supplies company gives the following options:


Prescriptions are not needed for many pet meds such as flea and tick prevention, joint care supplements and vitamin supplements. A good online pet meds site will provide educational information, be sure to read it so you get the best pet meds option for your pet.

You may think that the shipping amount from online pet supplies sites will make the purchase more expensive in the long run, but think again. The online pet meds industry is very competitive and free shipping on these products is readily available.

Drs. Foster & Smith does price comparisons for you on many popular products. Check out their price comparison page for several popular products compared to PetCareRx and 1-800-petmeds.

No more having to fit one more errand to the vet's office into your schedule. Just get pet meds delivered to your door - how convenient is that!

Dogs On Board: Airline Travel

It can be quite stressful to put your dog on an airplane, but a little preparation can go a long way. Start with www.PetFlight.com, a site that offers airline travel information for your pet.

Be sure to have quality dog supplies such as a kennel or carrier, leash and collar with proper identification tags.

Check out the airline before you book to be sure they'll handle your dog to your standards. Midwest Airlines has a Premier Pet Program that you will find reassuring.

Picture source: www.petflight.com

Just Say No to Heartworm

How you do remember to give your cat or dog monthly heartworm meds? If you don't have a good method, get one! Remembering to give your pet his heartworm meds is too important to not be on the ball with this one.

Heartworm Prevention and Treatment Guidelines in Dogs and Cats

Tips to Keep Pets Safe in Summertime

Tips to Keep Dogs and Cats Safe in Summertime
by Brian Jenkins

Taking extra care of your pets during the hot summer months is crucial to keeping them healthy. For dogs with thin or short fur, pet sun block is a great solution to prevent sunburn. In the summertime, insects are actually more of a threat for dogs and cats then they are for children. Be sure to give your pets plenty of water, as everyone, kids, adults and pets, all need plenty of water to combat the intense heat of summer.

Animals with thin coats are at high risk of sunburn at all times, but even dogs with thick fur can suffer from sunburn. It's easy to see that bristling coat of fur shining in the sun and think it means that our pet's skin is safe. All pets are susceptible to burning on the tips of their ears and their noses. Another trouble spot is the abdomen. Many dogs and cats like to lie on their backs letting their stomachs take in the warmth of the sun (yes, dogs and cats sunbathe too.). Lying on their backs, while comfortable, puts pets at significant risk of sunburn. Lotions designed just for dogs and cats can be found online or at stores. If you have trouble finding what you need ask your veterinarian. Be especially careful in applying these lotions as pets have a much harder time washing out their eyes if the lotion gets in them. During the summer months, bugs can be a major problem for animals. Allergic reactions to bees and fire ants can be fatal to your dog or cat if the vet is not visited immediately. The first step is to use flea and tick medication. It is also important to use heart worm meds because a mosquito can carry the parasite to your dog or cat. Once this is taken care of keep a close eye out for anomalies. If you notice scabs on the animal you should check closely that the medication is working.

Fleas and ticks can lead to constant scratching, to the extent that patches on your animal's body could be rubbed raw. This is tame when compared with what bees and fire ants can do to your dog or cat. Getting frisky with those buzzing bees can lead to bad stings on the nose and head of your pet. That is a serious matter itself; however, if your pet is allergic it can be fatal.

Another potentially fatal situation for your dog or cat in the summertime involves fire ants. A sleeping dog or cat can be easy prey for these red pests. These ants will actually scatter themselves over your pet's stomach and synchronize their patterns of stinging. This can cause immense pain. If this is occurs, hose down your pet and bring it to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Prevention measures should solve most problems, but be sure to keep your eyes open just in case. Swimming is something that most dogs will readily do. Cats, while they tend to avoid the water, could fall in by accident at any moment. The threat with water is not that the pets will not know how to swim, as most will know what to do instinctively. The main issue is how the animal will get out of the water after it has entered. Pool-sides and the edges of boats can be very difficult for a pet to climb onto while also staying afloat. If your dog or cat panics upon entering the water it may find it impossible to get out.

To prevent this from happening, give your animal some basic lessons. Have your dog or cat go into the water and help lead it to the stairs or ramp to get out of the water. This training will make it easier for your dog or cat if it falls in by accident at any point. Dehydration is a constant issue for animals as well. The extra heat will force your pet to consume substantially larger amounts of water in the summertime. There is a great temptation to give your dog or cat ice cold water. It is a good idea to avoid this and stick to room temperature liquids. If the water is too cold the animal is likely to end up vomiting bile and becoming even more dehydrated. This becomes especially likely if your pet drinks fast, which happens very often during the hot summer months. The occasional ice-cube or frozen treat can be helpful to help your dehydrated pet cool down. During the summer, staying cool is the greatest challenge of all. Never leave your pet in a parked car with the windows closed. In less then ten minutes that car can get up around 120 degrees. Temperatures that high could kill your animal. If you must leave a pet unattended in your vehicle park it in the shade, put the windows down and be sure to have water that your pet can drink. Pets with flat faces and/or thick fur are at the highest risk for heat stroke. Try to take your pet out in the cool of the morning or early evening to keep it from overheating. The daytime hours can be too much for your animal.

It is also a good idea to keep track of how the sun shines in your yard. A place that is shaded at one time may be bright in another because of how the sun moves across the sky. Be sure that your dog or cat is resting in the shade as much as possible while outside. At the least make sure that shade is available at all times so that your pet can find relief from the sun. They will know when they are too hot, at least most of the time, be sure to give them ample opportunities to find relief. Excessive panting is one of the earliest signs of heat exhaustion, but if symptoms get to the point of vomiting be sure to get your animal cooled down. One sure fire way to do this is to pour cool water on the dog or cat and work the liquid into its coat. If this does not help, and the animal ends up losing consciousness you should take it to a veterinarian immediately. Summer is one of the best times to have fun with your pet. Playing a game of fetch that involves your dog jumping into a body of water can be very fun. Watching your cat chase after butterflies can be entertaining as well. However, if you want to enjoy these pastimes you need to be sure to take care of your animal in the summer heat. When the proper precautions are taken your pets have a great chance of keeping cool and staying safe. Take some time to get yourself and your pet ready for the summer sun, and enjoy a safe and happy summer together.



About the Author
Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who often writes about topics pertaining to the care of pets and health options for pets such as Pet Meds

Pet Exercise - Does Your Dog Get Enough?

Does Your Dog Get The Right Amount Of Exercise? by Matthew Homfray

For most people, exercising a dog consists of a trip to the park for a run around. In some cases this might suffice, but responsible owners should be aware of the quantity and quality of exercise that their dog needs to maintain optimum health. Ask yourself the following questions.

1) How often does your dog get exercised?

It does not take a genius to work out that you put on weight if you do not burn off the calories that you ingest. Exercise is extremely important to the health and well being of your dog. Fit dogs are happier, more active, more mobile and less susceptible to health problems such as arthritis, ligament ruptures and heart disease. With such huge individual variation between breeds and ages, we cannot recommend a set amount of exercise that each dog should have, but all dogs require at least one walk a day, with the more athletic ones requiring two.

2) What type of exercise does your dog do?

Whilst a walk or two a day may be perfectly adequate exercise for your dog, there is huge benefit to be had from mixing it up a bit and trying out new activities. Adding variety to a dogs exercise routine provides extra physical and mental challenges that can be both interesting and rewarding for both dog and owner. If your dog has any medical conditions (e.g. heart problem, arthritis) you must consult a veterinary professional before adding any unfamiliar exercises. Here we look at various types of exercise possible.

- Walking & Hiking

The most common form of exercise for dogs. Always have your dog on a lead unless you are in a park or rural area without traffic. Beware the potential existence of other dogs in public places that may be irresponsibly raised and show aggression to your pooch.

- Jogging

Getting your dog to run alongside you and adjust to fluctuations in your speed will require a little training, but if you are a keen jogger it is a great way of exercising your dog. Make sure you choose a pace that is comfortable for your dog, and only attempt jogging if you and your dog are able to walk briskly for 30 minutes without tiring.

- Cycling

This is fantastic if you have access to the countryside where your dog can run safely off the lead. Also great for athletic dogs that need to run greater distances than you do to achieve a proper workout. If you wish to cycle with your dog in urban areas, he or she must have impeccable lead manners and ideally respond to commands such as left and right. Cycling early in the morning when there is less traffic is wise, and avoid busy roads.

- Inline skating

Skating, like cycling, means athletic dogs often get the chance to run to their hearts content. However, since you cannot go on grass and are concrete bound, it is only really suitable with a dog in a park, where you do not have the worry of traffic. Your dog should be taught commands such as slow and stop, and only let off the lead if he or she is ultra obedient. Using a harness rather than a lead affords greater control in this exercise.

- Jump & fetch

Getting your dog to jump and fetch a ball can provide hours of entertainment and is excellent exercise. Make sure the ball is not small enough to be accidentally swallowed. Also synthetic toys such as balls are far safer than sticks, which can fragment in the dogs mouth and get stuck in their throat.

- Frisbee

Playing frisbee is great fun for some dogs, but you need to have a large garden or a park nearby where your dog can run freely off the lead. This is great for the lazy person as you are pretty much stationary while your dog has a full workout. Clearly not all dogs are willing or able to catch the frisbee, so only those breeds that pick up the knack are suitable. Playing frisbee should be avoided in dogs with teeth or mouth problems, and also in dogs with joint problems and those susceptible to cruciate ligament damage.

- Circuit & agility

Those familiar with obedience competitions will be well aware of the fun and satisfaction to be had doing this activity. You and your dog run around a series of obstacles, aiming to pass through each without a problem. Courses often consist of bar jumps (hurdles of varying heights according to the breed), a tunnel (usually about 3 feet long), a ramp and a slalom (5 or more bars in a row). The key when starting out is to reward your dog enthusiastically for doing each obstacle with treats. You should lead him through the obstacle course, teaching him to respond to instructions such as Up!, and body language, for example the outstretched palm of your hand meaning Stop!

- Swimming

Swimming is one of the best exercises there is for both you and your dog, as you are using every muscle in the body. If you are lucky enough to have somewhere where you and your dog are both permitted to swim, and is also safe, then this is a highly beneficial activity. If you are swimming in the sea, make sure a lifeguard is around just in case, and be aware that cold water and current both increase the effort required as more calories are burned. Swimming is particularly beneficial for dogs with arthritis and other joint problems as it builds muscular strength without placing strain on the joints.

- Football

Start the game by kicking the ball slowly along the ground towards your dog, and encourage him to get it. Because the ball is too large to pick up in his or her mouth, it will take him or her some time to realize that it must be pushed with either the nose or the paws. Give praise and encouragement as he or she gets the hang of it. Small breeds can be offered a smaller rubber ball rather than a football. Make sure the ball is not small enough to be swallowed though.


Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at www.WhyDoesMyPet.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support.


Article Source: Richmond Pet Lovers.com